Air ticket prices rise as Spring Festival approaches

As Spring Festival approaches, airlines have almost stopped offering discounts for tickets. As the economic situation improves, some carriers added a large number of addition flights -- more than last year.

On ticket booking websites such as Ctrip, few air tickets with discounts can be found ahead of spring festival. For February 6th, 80 percent of tickets from Shanghai to Chengdu, Chongqing and Guiyang are being sold at full prices.

For February 12th, a day before the new year eve, all tickets are sold at full price. Even Spring Airlines, which usually offers discounts, is selling tickets at the highest prices.

Zhang Wu'an, Spekesman, Spring Airlines, said, " Several months in a year are low season for airways. Such as November, December and January. We have quite a loss at those months. At the few times of travel peak such as spring festival and golden weeks, we must take the opportunities to make money."

As the lunar new year approaches, Spring Airlines plans to transport 650 thousand passengers, 50 percent more than the same period of last year. China Eastern Airlines plans to carry 7 million passengers, 40 percent higher than last year. It also plans to run additional flights during the period.

China Eastern Airlines says most of its additional flights will carry passengers from major cities. Routes covering some major cities, including Chengdu, Chongqing and Harbin, will be serviced by larger aircraft.

On busy routes to the northeast and southwest, the airline will add one flight a day from Shanghai to Jiamusi, Mudanjiang and Mianyang.

Air China says it will also run large aircraft from Shanghai to other cities. In addition, it will add two more flights each week between Shanghai Pudong and Taibei.